News Archive

13/2/2024

 
Vacancies And Jobs In The Uk: February 2024

The estimated number of vacancies in November 2023 to January 2024 was 932,000, a decrease of 26,000 from August to October 2023.   Vacancy numbers fell on the quarter for the 19th consecutive period in November 2023 to January 2024, down by 2.7% since August to October 2023, with the estimated number of vacancies falling in 12 of the 18 industry sectors.  

13/2/2024

 
Earnings And Employment From Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, Uk - February 2024

Early estimates for January 2024 indicate that the number of payrolled employees rose by 1.4% compared with January 2023, a rise of 413,000 employees.   This annual increase was largest in the health and social work sector, a rise of 217,000 employees.  

13/2/2024

 
Child Maintenance Service Reformed To Crack Down On Parents Who Refuse To Pay

New powers for the Child Maintenance Service to recover cash from non-paying parents faster.   Parents who wilfully refuse to pay maintenance for their children will face swifter enforcement action.  

13/2/2024

 
China's Doom Loop - A Dramatically Smaller (and Older) Population Could Create A Devastating Global Slowdown

China has announced that in 2023 its population declined from 1.4118 to 1.4097 billion people.  Forecasting by the UN suggests China's population will dip to 1.313 billion by 2050 and then down to about 800 million by 2100.  

12/2/2024 : Auctioneers

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - 7 February 2024

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (February 7th) sold 738 store cattle, 21 breeding cattle and 167 OTM cattle.   Bullocks (371) averaged 322.0p per kg and sold to 400.0p per kg for a 275kg Limousin cross from Lochbuie, Newtonmore and £2,050 gross for a 815kg Saler cross from Morayscairn, Alves.  

12/2/2024 : Auctioneers

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 6 February 2024

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February 6th) sold 7 Prime Cattle.   Prime Heifers (7) averaged 283.3p per kg (-4.8p) and sold to 293.0 per kg and £1,941.800 gross.  

12/2/2024

£3 Billion Affordable Housing Boost To Deliver 20,000 New Homes In England

The expansion of Government-backed loan scheme will support thousands of new homes.   20,000 new affordable homes will be built across the country, helping more people realise the dream of owning their own home, thanks to a £3 billion increase in a Government-backed loan fund opening today.  

12/2/2024

Museums In England To Benefit From £24 Million Investment To Fund Major Infrastructure Projects

More than £86 million overall to be invested to develop world-class culture.   67 projects across England have already benefited from the scheme Fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund launched Museums are set to benefit from £24 million of funding as part of the Government's ongoing commitment to supporting world-class culture in all corners of the country.  

12/2/2024

 
Families Need Help In Rising To The Triple Savings Challenge Of Saving More For Rainy Days, Bigger Life Events And Retirement

Families across Britain face a ‘triple savings challenge' of insufficient ‘rainy day' savings of at least £1,000, an inability to cope financially with bigger life events like family breakdown, and inadequate retirement incomes.  But all three can be addressed by building on the success of auto-enrolment into pension saving to encourage more liquid saving too, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Monday).  

12/2/2024

 
New Housing Developments To Deliver Nature Boost In Landmark Move For England

In a world first, developers in England are now required to deliver 10% Biodiversity Net Gain when building new housing, industrial or commercial developments.   From today (Monday 12 February 2024), all major housing developments are required to deliver at least a 10% benefit for nature with England becoming the first country in the world to make Biodiversity Net Gain a legal requirement.  

11/2/2024

 
The Impact Of Pet Ownership And Other Possible Pitfalls On Your Mortgage Approval

The complex waters of securing a mortgage in the UK can often feel like a straightforward journey—at first glance.  Prospective homeowners are typically well-versed in the basics: maintain a good credit score, have a steady income, and save a substantial deposit.  

11/2/2024

 
‘Digitising' Your Wardrobe Can Help You Save Money And Make Sustainable Fashion Choices

Spring is traditionally the season for a good clean - and maybe a clear out.  Taking stock and having a bit of a declutter can freshen things up domestically.  

11/2/2024

 
Britain's Deepening Turnout Divide - Less Well-off Millennials Are Increasingly Unlikely To Vote Compared To Their Better-off Counterparts

The turnout divide between richer and poorer young voters is deepening, with millennial non-graduates and non-homeowners increasingly unlikely to vote compared to their graduate and homeowning counterparts since the last general election, according to new Resolution Foundation analysis published Wednesday 7 February 2024.   The research examines the rising role of age in influencing people's political preferences ahead of the next election.  

11/2/2024

Update On Caithness NHS Redesign Now On Hold Indefinitely - Comments At The End

The Scottish Government announced last month that funding for all NHS construction projects was to be paused for at least two years.   Despite this, work will continue on planning and implementing the redesign of health and social care services in Caithness.  

11/2/2024

 
The Super Bowl Gets The Vegas Treatment, With 1 In 4 American Adults Expected To Gamble On The Big Game

A record 67.8 million American adults are expected to bet US$23.1 billion on Super Bowl LVIII, according to a new survey conducted by Morning Consult for the American Gaming Association.  The estimated number of bettors has increased 35% from the previous Super Bowl, while the total amount being bet is estimated to have shot up from $16 billion in 2023.  

11/2/2024

Two Worrying Articles On Scottish And English Budget Gaps

North and south Scotland or England councils are in trouble over their budget gaps.   The threats to local services may never have been so bad since 2008.  

10/2/2024

 
Orkney Islands Council backs West of Orkney Windfarm's offshore plans

Orkney Island Council's Development and Infrastructure Committee has given its backing to the West of Orkney Windfarm's offshore plans.   Orkney Islands Council is a statutory consultee for Section 36 consent and marine licence applications for the proposed £multi-billion offshore windfarm, located 30km west of the Orkney Mainland and 25km north of the Sutherland coast.  

10/2/2024

Low Earners And Workplace Pension Saving - A Qualitative Study - Consider Having Employment Paying Over £10,000 To Ensure Pension Contributions

A series of interviews with low earners exploring attitudes, behaviours, and experiences of workplace pensions in the UK.   Authors Milo Warby, Alice, Coulter, Dr Lynne Robertson-Rose, and Sandra Hicks.  

10/2/2024

 
Scotland Boosting UK With More Than £2 Billion Spend In Defence Annually

Defence spending with UK industry by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland is currently £2.09 billion, official statistics have revealed.   The statistics highlight the UK Government's commitment to continually improving the defence sector, while supporting the economy and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.  

10/2/2024

 
Scottish Budget - Healthcare Spending, Staffing And Activity

Health is the largest single area of Scottish Government spending, making up 35% of the Scottish Government's total discretionary budget in 2024-25 and 39% of its non-benefit budget.   Its share of spending has grown significantly over time, driven by large increases in health spending in the 2000s and cutbacks to other areas of spending in the 2010s.